Tuberc Respir Dis.  1989 Dec;36(4):333-340. 10.4046/trd.1989.36.4.333.

Clinical Significance of FEV_1.0 to Predict Post Operative Pulmonary Complication

• KMID: 2528526
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1989.36.4.333

Abstract

To evaluate the risk factors of post-operative pulmonary complications, we reviewed 166 cases who underwent surgery under general anesthesia except chest surgery. All of them had value of FEV_1.0 below 1.5 L. Post-operative major pulmonary complications such as pneumonia, acute respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism occurred in only 2 cases among 166 patients. Parameters of pulmonary function test including FEV_1.0, % predictive value of FEV_1.0, and FEV_1.0/ FVC were compared with the occurrence of major pulmonary complications and age of patients, smoking history, site of operation and duration of operations were also compared.
Results
were as follows: 1) There were only 2 post-operative major pulmonary complications and both were post-operative pneumonia. 2) Value of FEV_1.0 of patients with major pulmonary complication were 1. 1 L and 0.74 L respectively, and % predictive value of FEV_1.0 and FEV_1.0/ FVC of them were below 35%. 3) Age of patients with major pulmonary complication were 63 and 64 years old respectively. But there was no major pulmonary complication among patients even over 70-years-old. 4) Both patients with major pulmonary complications underwent upper abdominal surgery, especially operation of biliary tract. 5) Duration of operation in patients with major pulmonary complication was less than 3 hours. 6) Both patients with major pulmonary complication had smoking history over 8 years and both had smoked until the date of operation From above data, though careful prospective study is needed, we might conclude that occurrence of post-operative major pulmonary complications correlated with preoperative poor pulmonary function tests (FEV_1.0 less than 1.2L % predictive value of FEV_1.0; less than 35%, FEV_1.0/FVC less than 35%). But % predictive value of FEV_1.0 and FEV_1.0/ FVC were possibly more accarate than absolute value of FEV_1.0 to predict the post-operative major pulmonary complications. Above criteria were not absolute contraindication to major surgery under general anesthesia and multiple faclurs of patients status should be considered.